St. Paul daily globe., 1887-07-04
A RACE OF NoNDEsoRIPTs.
A Queer Tribe That Exists Within
Twenty-Five Miles of New York

A Queer Tribe That Exists Within
Twenty-Five Miles of New York
City.
Within twenty-five miles of New
York, in the range known as the ClOster
mountains, in Bergen county, New Jer-
sey, lives, or rather exists, a tribe of
nondescripts known to the denizens of
the surrounding bailiwicks as the
jackson Whites" So far as can be
name, and as to its derivation even the
oldest inhabitant kens not. The home
of the tribe is in the densest part OF the
mountains, and within short
walk of Englewood, and for
the precariOus existence they
enjoy the Jackson Whites forage liber-
ally ON the farmers of the aforementioned
place and CloSter, Demarest, Tenaf3y,
Norwood and other neighboring villages,
and sometimes wander over the state
line into Andreville, alias Tappan.
When walking is good he occasionally
watts his undesired presence into Hack
ensack. He is seldom, however, seen in
the County Seat" unless court is Sit
ting, and then he generally comes over
at the earnest invitation Of some village
constable, who always appears so fear
full of losing him that he either adorns
him with bracelets or secures him to the
bottom of the farm buggy with ropes.
1.-The Jackson Whites are for the most
part undersized, and their complexion
is cross between that of last years
dishclOut and that of mauve mule.
They have banjo-head features, queer
eyes and hair that might be like that of
Caucasian if it could be introduced to a
comb. They speak fair English and
good Jersey Dutch,' and semi-oc-
casionally .pay their debts. In their
season blackberries, whortleberries.
wild strawberries and other fruit are
the principal articles of commerce of
the Jackson White. In the winter time
he becomes a huntsman, and rabbits and
squirrels are his especial game. These
he diSposes of for their value i'll liquor,
and when he can't get squir-
rels or rabbits he raises chick
ems by vandaliZing the near
est poultry yards. Once in a while
Jackson White so far forgets himself as
to work little. He is firm believer
in woman's rights, however, and will
never permit himself to be so ungal-
liant as to work if any of his wives are
about. In the harvest season the
women of the tribe can be seen engaged
in the hay, Oat, wheat, corn, rye, buck
wheat, pea, tomato, turnip or potato
fields of Bergen county, while their
male friends hold down the top rails of
the adjoining fences earnestly awaiting
the arrival of pay day. Then they visit
the nearest village inn, and men and
women alike flock about the bars. In
many cases the women can Outdrink the
men.
Any farmer in Bergen county will tell
you:that, though he has known of the ex-
iStence of the Jackson Whites ever since
he was old enough to know of the ex-
istence of Anybody, he knows as little
abOut their mode of living as he does of
that of a South Sea Islander. For the
purpose of aScertaining something of
this life a New York World reporter
mode the trip to the mountains where
reside these queer beings. CloSter is
Just nineteen miles from jersey City, on
the northern branch of the New York,
Lake Erie & Western railroad, and was
formerly known as Cl0Ster City, to dis
tinguish it from another ClOster a couple
of miles down street. ItbOaStS of several
stores, barrOOm,a couple of churches, a
thousand inhabitants and about 1000, 600
dogs. The virgin end of the Hacken-
sack river loafS lazily through the sub
urbs of the village on its way towards
the Hackensack Jail. It:iSn't very wide
at this point and one can jump across it
in two jumps. 1t isn't very damp either,
and in the dry season a aperSOn can stand
in it without getting his feet wet. Away
over in the dim distance are the ClOSter
mountains. They were uncanny, dis
mal-lOOking, SpOOky mountains even on
this bright June day. By climbing the
l., ;on hoI =,
and through brake, briar, bush and
house, with an inverted coal Shute
atop, was finally reached. Gem
tie knocks, and the accommodating
and hOSpitable door tumbleS inward and
diSclOseS the contents of the ramshackle
habitatiOn. 1t SwarmS with dogs of sall
sizes and descriptions. The animals
having been quieted by rough voice,
the proprietor of the voice energies
from the kennel.
''Well watcher want?" comes from a
yellow-visaged individual, who has not
enough clothing on to wad a gun.
The writer produced his bottle, and
this served as the best introduction.
The Jackson White became friendly
the village or, ather, Shantyage. A peep
inside his hut discovered three women
and at least dozen children in all de-
greeS of age, size, dirt and decOllete.
''All your family?" was asked.
He miSinterpreted the question. 'NOt
all" he said, ''twO of ems down in the
village waShin'."
YOU'RE sisters, or daughterS?"
''Humph! my wimmen-them three"
pointing to the adults. ''T'Other's my
kids
"How many wives have you?"
''Five now this summer, so far; III
mebbe have mo-, mebbe less, fo' sum-
mer'S over"
O''What is the cause of the rise and fall
in the matrimonial market?"
Cant tell much bot wimmen.
Sometimes they takes likin' t. me, m
sometimes fur some un else. KANT
place no 'pendence on 'em. They'm a
queer lot, wimmen is"
At this point in the interview half
nude girl, probably fifteen years of age,
came out.
''She your wife?"
''Nixey. Darter!"
The young woman, who, with little
soap, might bave been decidedly pretty,
was nursing little one.
''Not 'xactly mar'd," said the Jackson
White, 'sbut lives with feller down the
slope. He's got mon he wants now.
He'll take her back agin' when he gets
tired of t'others."
Are all the men as well fixed for
families as you."
''SOme's good, some wuSs."
s'HOw do you support them?"
He looked as if he pitied the inquirer's
unsophisticatedness.
''They wuck. l hain't got time"
"What do you dO?'
sometimes hunt, sometimes fish,
sometimes loaf"
(Which do you like best?"
40, take it as it comes. Hain't per-
ickler!"
All through this rude region the same
manner of living appeared to exist. As
near as could be judged there were